Warning: Vodafone $5 roaming

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Warning: Vodafone $5 roaming

Martynnz

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#204233 22-Sep-2016 17:30

Hi all,

Just thought I would bring this to people's attention as it may have slipped under a few radars (incl my own). Long time vodafone customer. Have my account set up for roaming for many years. I've always turned my data off and only used it for occasional txt etc so not big use when away (I'm on holiday so don't deal with work while away).

Vodafone introduced the $5 roaming. Looked at it briefly but have never felt it was worth it when I use an optus $2 sim if I need data etc in Australia. Recent holiday I was just using hotel wifi so didn't change sims. Sent a few txt, checked voicemail twice and made one call. All up over one week 4 x txt, voicemail 3:25 mins and 2:37 calls. Figured I would get charged individually for each. However it seems that you are automatically enrolled in the $5 if you are on account (and its not opt in). The first action triggers the $5 charge (so it is not cumulative to a maximum $5 but starts at the beginning). So I have now spent a total of $30 for the above amount. Rang vodafone, there is no opt out unless you cancel roaming. The solution seems to be not to use your phone overseas which kind of makes my phone is essentially useless for roaming.

I can see how it would be great for power users (or idiots that don't work out what data is) but for me it is now a complete pain in the ass! It is unfortunately a deal breaker after almost 15 years with vodafone as I go away regularly enough where this will end up costing me a small fortune. Sometimes a little flexibility would go a looong way!

Hope no one else has been caught out with this or realises before a big bill.

Cheers (and rant over)

Martyn

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#1638911 22-Sep-2016 17:41

It's clear on the VodafoneNZ site that is the way $5 daily roaming works and I have used it lots and used it when in UK just last week and will use it when in France next week

If you want to send a couple of SMS when away and have access to a PC then login and use the service Free2TXT on the main VodafoneNZ site

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Edit: The $5 covers all calls in the country you are roaming in and calls back to NZ and the same for SMS so it's not just data related

Martynnz

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#1638913 22-Sep-2016 17:51

I appreciate how it works (and strangely enough don't trawl all the websites of stuff I'm taking away to check how it works). My biggest gripe is the lack of opt in/out. For my use it makes no sense to spend $5 a day and I would rather be charged individually for each service but that can't be done. With spark you buy extra or get charged a going rate. The vodafone way is more inflexible with no way to get out of the $5 charge.

A $5 charge doesn't work for everyone and hence my title *Warning* to make others in the community aware. My mobile bill goes through my credit card and so hardly gets checked. I'm sure there are some like me (at least I hope I'm not the only idiot) who haven't realised that the change was mandatory. If no one else has been caught out then more fool me.

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#1638914 22-Sep-2016 17:55

$5 daily roaming is part of the actual mobile plan it's not a addon but you are aware of this now

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loganjames

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#1638916 22-Sep-2016 17:57

Yeah I never saw the appeal for my individual usage with the $5 per day roaming. A 2 week holiday costs $70 ($5x14 days) on top of a plan.

I use 2Degrees and find the 10c per min, 10c per text, 10c per MB more my speed if I'm on holiday in Australia. And of course the option to buy AU data pack ($10 for 300MB or $15 for 500MB)

sbiddle

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#1638922 22-Sep-2016 18:25

loganjames: Yeah I never saw the appeal for my individual usage with the $5 per day roaming. A 2 week holiday costs $70 ($5x14 days) on top of a plan.

I use 2Degrees and find the 10c per min, 10c per text, 10c per MB more my speed if I'm on holiday in Australia. And of course the option to buy AU data pack ($10 for 300MB or $15 for 500MB)

Everybody is going to have a different view on this. I would never change networks because it's the single best feature Vodafone have. I know plenty of others who agree, and the lack of decent roaming of one of the biggest issues facing both Spark and 2degrees because they simply can't compete in this space. .

I can't imagine having much comeback with Vodafone - this is how it's worked for a number of years now. You're also told clearly $5 daily usage applies in a TXT when you land.

I could see a number of challenges in trying to bill for $5 of "usage" before applying the $5 so doing that would prove incredibly difficult.

jjnz1

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#1638942 22-Sep-2016 19:08

I think the $5 roaming deal is great - and when I travel overseas I always factor in $5 per data for unlimited calling and lots of data.

Back in the day, I remember spending hundreds of dollars and only using my phone a few times. Times have definitely changed for the better.

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#1638967 22-Sep-2016 20:01

I picked days to use it. (usually full shop days where google and maps are handy, or upload pics from touristy activity days) And airplane/free wifi only every other day

Wasn't too scary a bill to come home to.

Initially I thought this thread was going to be regarding the charge period. Works on NZ time, so watch your daily cycle if its nearer 10-11pm while in aus.. Find yourself with a $10 bill not a $5

And no need to opt out. if you don't use any data/voice. No additional $5 charge made 0.o If you don't want any charges. Sure, you need to disable roaming totally and not risk 1kb ticking that $5 off.

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Geektastic

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#1638984 22-Sep-2016 20:24

If you use a local SIM, how can people call you? Doesn't it effectively mean your number is off line until you get home?

ScuL

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#1639430 23-Sep-2016 14:31

I think this is one of the greatest features Vodafone have to offer. Usually when I'm over in Aussie I'll be there for 1 or 2 days, so it will only cost $5~$10 and I can use my phone the same way as at home. On a typical business trip I burn through about 3GB of data in those two days so I believe it's super good value.

On longer stays or holidays you just switch your phone's data roaming feature off on the days you don't need it (and don't want to pay $5).

Haere taka mua, taka muri; kaua e wha.

noroad

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#1639452 23-Sep-2016 14:50

Martynnz:

So I have now spent a total of $30 for the above amount.

You are spending thousands of dollars on an overseas holiday and then complaining that your mobile carrier charges you the tiny sum of $5/day for using your mobile however you want almost? Sorry I don't get it, $5 is a very reasonable amount compared to years past and $30 is nothing in the context of overseas travel.

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#1639467 23-Sep-2016 15:04

I used mine for 4 weeks in the US and it was fabulously useful. Yes, it cost me $100 or something but time was when you could have spent that on a 10 minute call to overseas from your hotel room!

I get a rebate on Spark via my Farmlands account and that is not enough to move me because Spark roaming is hopeless in comparison.

I would like to see a day come when Vodafone operate a worldwide network, so that your phone is never deemed to be roaming if it is using a VF network regardless of where you are.

hairy1

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#1639490 23-Sep-2016 15:45

I have $5 roaming and have to be very careful about the instant $5 charge. I would love to be able to switch it off and on in My Vodafone. Often I am in Aussie for an hour and it can cost me $5 if I am not careful. It is a great service overall.

Cheers, Matt

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sbiddle

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#1639502 23-Sep-2016 16:03

Geektastic:

I would like to see a day come when Vodafone operate a worldwide network, so that your phone is never deemed to be roaming if it is using a VF network regardless of where you are.

Vodafone are moving away from being a global provider but that's got nothing to do with this. A $5 charge exists simply because they can charge it - there is no reason or need for it. When Three launched in 2003 they had no roaming charges when you roamed on any Three network.

The whole irony of this is that a lot of work was done by VF Group in the mid 2000's towards scrapping roaming charges across all Group networks. This was seen as anticompetitive by the EU, and in this part of the world off the record both the ACCC and Commerce Commission took issue with this as well as zero rating of roaming between NZ/AU would have likely been deemed anti competitive.

Jaxar

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#1639508 23-Sep-2016 16:15

sbiddle:

The whole irony of this is that a lot of work was done by VF Group in the mid 2000's towards scrapping roaming charges across all Group networks. This was seen as anticompetitive by the EU, and in this part of the world off the record both the ACCC and Commerce Commission took issue with this as well as zero rating of roaming between NZ/AU would have likely been deemed anti competitive.

That's pretty funny but yeah I can see the reasoning.

Please note: I have a professional bias towards Vodafone.

sbiddle

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#1639517 23-Sep-2016 16:25

Jaxar:

sbiddle:

The whole irony of this is that a lot of work was done by VF Group in the mid 2000's towards scrapping roaming charges across all Group networks. This was seen as anticompetitive by the EU, and in this part of the world off the record both the ACCC and Commerce Commission took issue with this as well as zero rating of roaming between NZ/AU would have likely been deemed anti competitive.

That's pretty funny but yeah I can see the reasoning.

It's the real problem with competition regulators. Many people think the job of somebody such as the Commerce Commission is to deliver the best deal for consumers, when in reality that's not the goal. Their goal is to ensure a level playing field, which doesn't always deliver the best price to consumers.

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